Delco Hospital Gets Worst Safety Grade In The State In New Ratings

DARBY, PA — One of Delaware County's last two remaining hospitals was graded a "D" for safety — the worst in the state in Leapfrog's new hospital safety ratings.

The Leapfrog Group released its latest biannual Hospital Safety Grades on Wednesday, assigning grades to general hospitals around the nation for their ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents and infections.

Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby received a "D" — the lowest mark among the 120 Pennsylvania hospitals Leapfrog graded. (Several hospitals went ungraded since they didn't fill out Leapfrog's most-recent hospital surveys, the organization says.)

The hospital's grade dipped from a "C," which Mercy received from Fall 2023 through 2025.

It comes during a period of flux for Delco's health care capacity in the wake of Crozer Health shutting down and closing its hospitals in Chester and Ridley Park.

Meanwhile, Mercy Fitzgerald is Delco's last-remaining hospital besides Riddle Hospital in Media, which Leapfrog gave an "A."

Mercy performed below-average at preventing safety issues, according to Leapfrog. Patients were four times more likely to suffer a fall and twice as likely to get bedsores, according to data covering mid-2022 to mid-2024.

A spokesperson for Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, which owns the hospital, hasn't responded to Patch as of this writing.

Here's how Leapfrog graded other area hospitals:

• Bryn Mawr Hospital: A
• Lankenau Medical Center, Wynnewood: A
• Paoli Hospital: B
• Jefferson Methodist Hospital, Philadelphia: C
• Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia: C
• Temple University Hospital - Main Campus, Philadelphia: B
• Roxborough Memorial Hospital, Philadelphia: C

Here's more info on Leapfrog's methodology.